Mission 09: Silver Lining

[Crystal Rose]

OOC: Welcome to the new mission thread. I have also created OOC and LOA threads for this mission.

Crystal was in her quarters on the Oly finishing up the admin relating to the most recent round of personnel transfers.

=/\=Sickbay to Commander Rose =/\= Crystal was quite surprised, she was sure she was up to date with her physicals and had had no recurrences of the exhaustion; yes, she was meant to get notifications of crew injuries serious enough to keep people from duty but that was usually a daily summary message.

=/\=Commander Rose here=/\=

=/\=This is Doctor Thanis here, I have to inform you that Admiral Smith has come down with Delvedian Pox, it's going to take a few days for us to synthesise a cure and he's contagious until then. He's in quarantine in the axillary sickbay.

Crystal's eyebrows rose =/\= How is he? If the Delvedian Pox is contagious do we have secondary infections to worry about?=/\=

=/\= It seems we caught the infection early enough it's not usually dangerous too humans. We are checking on people he has been in contact with in the last 12 hours.=/\=

=/\=Thank you for the update, let me know if there are any changes.=/\= Crystal really didn't want to have to deal with a outbreak on a ship.

=/\=Thank you Commander, Dr Thanis out.

Crystal had barely picked up her stylus again when the screen beeped for attention. She glanced at the call line, swallowed and tapped the screen.

"Admiral D'Sel. It is good to see you."

"It is good to see you Commander, I wish I had better news for you, I have just been informed that Admiral Smith is indisposed so I am forwarding the mission brief to you. The Olympia is needed in the Vandian Sector as soon as possible."

"Yes, Sir"

Admiral D'Sel terminated the communication link. The mission brief had all ready arrived.

Crystal started to read. She understood the Admiral's urgency. People were missing.

=/\=This is Commander Rose to Olympia crew, please report back on board within four hours. Shore leave is over. The Olympia will be leaving space dock in 6 hours time.=/\=

=/\=Commander Rose to Department heads, please report to the conference room in five hours for the mission briefing. Please bring your department status reports=/\=

Tag: All

Crystal arrived in the conference room with several minutes to spare before the meeting was due to start she had been through the information the Admiral had sent her three times and was ready to tell everyone else what was happening on Vandia III

[David Tan]

To say David had took full advantage of his time in O'Tooles was the classic understatement. Sean had made sure that the shots had kept coming, and eventually, he had drank both Will and Crystal under the proverbial table ...

At something like four in the morning, 'base-time, Tan passed out !

It had nothing to do with his inability to stop drinking. In fact, David wasn't a drinker per say, he simply enjoyed an old, expensive tipple when not on duty, but circumstances had led to him getting in his present state ...

~~~~~~~~~~

"Davi ... David .... HEY, WAKE UP !"

Tan's subconscious told him someone was trying to get his attention. letting the person shake him for a few more seconds, he reacted. His left arm shot up and grasped the throat of his 'assailant' but Sean was quicker, and jabbed him in the ribs pulling away from the grip.

"Get the hell up you drunken sop." Sean said, throwing cold water on Tan, "It seems your presence is required aboard that ship of yours mi'lad. There's a clean uniform, and breakfast waiting. get up and play Officer before I have to get Secur ....."

"Yeh yeh." David said, swinging his feet to the floor. He was surprisingly enjoying the breakfast when his comm badge chirped to life:

=^= Commander Rose to Department heads .. Report to the conference room in five hours for the mission briefing .. Please bring your department status reports =^=

~~~~~

David walked into the Olympia's conference room minutes before Commander Rose .... He double-checked his report, and satisfied, he slid it away from him and waited:

"Commander." Crystal said as she entered, "Hangover ?"

"No Ma'am." Tan replied, knowing how much the designation annoyed the Exec'.

"Any word on the Admiral ?"

Crystal explained the situation regarding Steven to the Olympia's Second Officer as the other Senior Staff entered and took their seats ... Crystal took a breath then called for order ..........

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal looked round the assembled officers.

"We are being sent to the Vandian Sector. It has two habitable planets but no native intelligent races. Two months ago a scientific team was assigned to Vandia III, the larger of the M class planets, with the goal of conducting a detailed survey prior to colonisation. However, four days ago a member of the team went missing, twelve hours ago a further team member disappeared. Our mission is to evacuate the remaining four members of the team and locate the two missing scientists."

Crystal paused a moment meeting the gaze of the others present.

"Any questions?"

Tag: All

*****************************************************

It was two days to Vandia III which gave Crystal time to brood. So far none of the other scientists had gone missing but then they'd pretty much confined themselves to their camp. She reread the report on the missing scientists, the first had disappeared in a region well to the North of the camp and the second while surveying caverns to the south. You couldn't make a patten out of two points, or rather you could make any pattern you wanted out of two points....

It was driving her mad she was going round and round in circles. She had avoided just sitting on the bridge, instead letting the duty officers do their duty. She couldn't find the ready room comfortable, with the Admiral's personal touches it just made her realise what was missing. Instead she was sitting in the briefing room on her own and waited.

[David Tan]

"...... twelve hours ago a further team member disappeared. Our mission is to evacuate the remaining four members of the team and locate the two missing scientists." Crystal paused a moment meeting the gaze of the others present, "Any questions ?"

"So, the Scientific team only consisted of six in all. That's unusual isn't it. In my experience, they Command would send a nominal twelve plus party ... Makes me wonder why the small contingent."

"At this point, I can't answer that Commander. Let's hope the remaining people can shed some light." Crystal said, thankful David had pointed out the most obvious issue."

"If there's anyone left by the time we arrive." the Security Chief commented.

< tag : Any more questions ? >

After the meeting:

David had been discretely looking for the First Officer ... Yes, he could have simply asked the ships' computer, but hell 'Not like I couldn't go a'looking for myself' he thought ... Entering the briefing room he feigned surprise at finding it occupied. He dropped the PADD's he was holding onto the table and took his seat:

"Aren't you in the wrong chair ?" he asked casually.

"Very funny." the Exec' said.

"Listen Crystal. We're in one crappy position. I'd hope that at some point, whoever, or whatever, is keeping Steven away will be sorted and they will catch up with us. But in the mean time 'you' are 'it' so to speak."

"There's no need to stating the obvi......"

"But there IS !" David interrupted, "This ship needs to see a Command structure. It hasn't gone un-noticed that Admiral Smith is very conspicuous by his absence ! ...... While we, well you as it happens, are under no obligation to give an explanation for his not being on-board at this point in time, they need to know 'you' can confidently make all the right decisions. So hiding away in here isn't the best way to project that confidence .. In my humble opinion." Tan finished, realizing he'd likely gone too far in his attempted pep-talk.

"I DON'T remember asking your opinion .. Commander !" Crystal retorted, then mellowed, "I'm sorry David, but this thing with Steven is ......"

< tag : Crystal >

"That's fair enough." David said after she had finished speaking, "Look, you can Command this ship with your eye's closed, and you have the experience and know-how to complete this mission successfully. So let's work together and try to figure out what the hell is going on on Vendia III ... OK ?" he asked , that wry smile appearing .....

Ninety minutes later:

Crystal entered the Bridge, and, after a seconds' hesitation, took the Center seat. They had entered the Vandian Sector an hour ago and were now less that thirty minutes from the Vandia System, and their goal ..........

[Crystal Rose]

"But there IS !" David interrupted, "This ship needs to see a Command structure. It hasn't gone un-noticed that Admiral Smith is very conspicuous by his absence ! ...... While we, well you as it happens, are under no obligation to give an explanation for his not being on-board at this point in time, they need to know 'you' can confidently make all the right decisions. So hiding away in here isn't the best way to project that confidence .. In my humble opinion." Tan finished,

"I DON'T remember asking your opinion .. Commander !" Crystal retorted. Then realising how much she had raised her voice swallowed hard and brought her volume down "I'm sorry David, but this thing with Steven is quite serious. I know that. But they just aren't telling me anything. Or at least nothing confirmed, it's all ifs maybes and possiblys." She sighed. "I hate the uncertainty."

"That's fair enough." David said after she had finished speaking, "Look, you can Command this ship with your eye's closed, and you have the experience and know-how to complete this mission successfully. So let's work together and try to figure out what the hell is going on on Vandia III ... OK ?" he asked , that wry smile appearing .....

"Yeah. It's okay. The Oly is okay. We're okay and I'm sure I will be." Crystal smiled with as much assurance as she could muster. It was not beyond the realms of probability that one day Starfleet would ask her to command a ship of her own. It was what usually happened to FOs, they got promoted. Maybe it would be easier to command her own ship than to have to drop in to the job on occasion while trying to keep on top of her own duties when the Admiral was indisposed.

*******************************************************

When the ship finally got to the Vandia system Crystal was firmly in the center seat. She glance over her shoulder "Lieutenant Green, hail the science camp, please."

The viewscreen flickered and a middle aged human female with green eyes and reddish shoulder length hair flecked with grey appeared. Crystal smiled she had talked to Dr Maureen Caspar the scientist who was now in charge of the mission (the actual mission leader Dr Sven Syrus had been the second to go missing).

"Greetings Doctor Caspar. We are just entering standard orbit. If you gather your team we will be beaming you aboard as soon as you are ready."

"Thank you Commander. She sighed heavily and visibly. "A week ago I wouldn't have guessed how keen I could become to leave this planet. We'll be ready in five minutes, see you soon. Vandia III out." She cut the comm link and left Crystal and the rest of the bridge crew staring at an image of the planet below.

"David, We'll go and meet our visitors." She got to her feet and headed for the lift with David at her side. "When the search for the missing starts you'll need the best information available."

Tag: David.

[David Tan]

David followed the Exec' to the transporter room and waited ... Moments later, the tell-tail hum of a transport in progress filled the room. As the four remaining personnel materialized, Crystal stepped forward making the introductions:

"We have quarters ready for you, all." David said, accepting the offered handshakes, "I'll have an ensign show you the way and then he can bring you to the observation lounge."

"Thank you Commander Tan .... I hope you plan to begin the search with all due haste Commander Rose. We are very concerned as to the whereabouts of Doctor Syrus." Doctor Casper said, turning to the Exec, "He has a minor heart condition, and I would hate for him to be trapped somewhere."

"We have the co-ordinates of the area he was working in. It looks as if there could be a small cave system close-by, could he have headed there for shelter ?"

"NO ! .... He wouldn't have gone to the caves. We detected toxic gasses emanating from the cave mouths so decided to leave them until our supply vessel got back with breathing apparatus." Doctor Beda interjected quickly, "Our concern is he may be too injured to contact us, or be able to answer our hail." the man said.

David listened to the explanation, watching the trill closely ... There was something not quite right, but for the life of him, David couldn't put his finger on it ... Hell, maybe he was reading something that wasn't there, but he had learned to trust his 'gut' feelings.

Observation Lounge ...

"You were a little harsh with our guests David ... Any particular reason ?" Crystal asked as they waited for the Scientists to join them.

Tan shrugged:

"You know me ......" he said, almost apologetically, "I'll find something in anything to spice up the tedium ... Although, I'll admit, a regular Agatha Christie mystery combined with a plague-carrying Commanding Officer does alleviate the boredom a little." he finished, grinning.

< tag : Crystal >

"That's fair." he replied, "Sooo, out of curiosity, where the hell do you think the Admiral has been. He's not been sat on the Star-base that's for sure. Given the fact we couldn't contact him, I'm guessing they sent him off somewhere ... One of those 'Need-to-Know' outings Command are so in favor of maybe ?"

Before Crystal could reply, the door opened and an Ensign entered, followed by their guests:

"Take a seat everyone." David said ..........

[Deleted]

Steven slowly opened his eyes and blinked several times as they adjusted to the light. Something about his quarters didn't quite feel right, so he looked left and right until he found his answer......he wasn't even in his quarters. This is puzzling.

It took a few moments to figure out that he was in Sickbay. Actually, not even that long, the Medical logo on the main entrance gave that one away. Looking down, he could see he was tucked into a biobed in an isolated section of Sickbay. He pulled back the covers and gasped.

'What in the name of anything sacred am I doing in my underwear??' He thought to himself, quickly getting back in before someone saw him.

'More importantly, what am I doing here?' Without access to his uniform, or any console, he was not able to contact anyone. For now, he would just have to wait for some nice doctory-type people to come and see him. Which, hopefully wouldn't be too long....he had a ship to command, of course.

<tag - *hint*>

OOC: Also....guess who is back boys and girls?

[David Tan]

Tan no sooner watched their 'guests' seat themselves nervously, when his Comm chirped to life:

=^= Commander Tan .. Could you come to the Bridge =^= David made his apologies and left the Observation Lounge ....

"Lieutenant ?"

"Sir, the Doctor is 'Demanding' you or Commander Rose go down to Sick-bay immediately ... Apparently, he is having some, issues, with one of his patients ?" Tan grinned, realizing the Admiral was finally sick, so to speak, of his quarantine. He informed the Lieutenant he still had the Conn and entered the turbo-lift .....

~~~~~

As he entered Sick-bay, the doctor was leaning against a cabinet, a suspiciously lethal looking instrument in his hand.

"Problems Doctor ?" Tan asked, trying to keep his face straight.

"I'm going to commit 'MURDER' if that man doesn't shut the hell UP !" the Doc said, only partially joking, "Since he woke up I've run every test possible, and it seems his quarantine can finally be lifted ... I'd like another twelve hours, but there's no guarantee either of us will still be around by then." David walked over to the plexi-glass screen and tapped on it. Admiral Smith turned and raised his arms in astonishment.

"Will you tell this 'Witch-doctor' that I am fit for duty David. Or I swear I'll go insane." Steven said, eyeing the Doctor.

"Unfortunately, I'm in no position to over-rule the Chief Medical Officer, Admiral." David replied, a dead-pan expression on his face.

"He's taunting me you know." Steven said, as if it was a secret no-one must hear, "Keeps telling me one more test, one more check, one more blood sample .... EIGHT PINTS we have, hell he must have taken the bulk of that already."

"I could certify him 'Non Compos Mentis' you know." the Doctor said, hand on his chin as if weighing up the repercussions. David turned away from the glass:

"Is he cleared ?"

"Well, like I said, I'd prefer another twelve hours, but yes, he can go now as long as he takes it easy for the next few hours ... I'll sign him fit to return to duty now, 'IF' you promise to take him out of my Sick-bay right away ..... Deal ?" the Doctor asked.

The door to Sick-bay opened and an Ensign entered. David took the garments he was carrying and dismissed the man.

"Sign him off doctor, and open this thing." David said, grinning, then handed Steven a fresh uniform, "Admiral, you've been pardoned." Tan said, heading back to the Doctor while Steven dressed ..........

[Deleted]

Steve sighed heavily as he took the uniform from David and went behind the alcove to put it on. He looked over himself in the mirror to make sure that he looked appropriate enough. 'It will do, I suppose' he thought to himself, with a shrug. Running his hand through his head, he breathed in deeply, and slowly exhaled before moving away and rejoining David again.

"Finally, I can get out of here." He said to David, with a wry grin. "Although, I WAS having so much fun."

He looked around, and everything seemed calm.....no-one rushing around or stressing out. "Judging by the relative calmness down here, we are not in danger, or in the middle of some emergency, or anything....which is a good sign. I want to at least be brought up to speed on what is going on before being bombarded with stuff like that."

David nodded in agreement and the two of them left Sickbay and headed to the turbolift. David headed back to the Observation Lounge to carry on with the meeting, while Steven headed off to his quarters to get fully refreshed and ready to go back to duty. It wouldn't do for him to be back in his position of command until he was 100% ready to do so.

While he was in his quarters, he had a quick trim of his beard, making it more presentable. As he turned around, he caught a glimpse of the photo frame that was on the desk beside his bed. The frame was spilt into two separate sections, to house two photographs. The left side was a photograph of his late wife Arya, while the right photo was of the two of them on their wedding day. Not a day goes by when he doesn't think of her. Her death still weighs heavily on him, even though it wasn't anything he or anyone could have averted. But that did not make the pain hurt any less. He missed her, and he always will. Looking at the photos then made him look over to Renora's cot. Obviously it was empty now, as she has grown out of it and was now alseep in a proper bed, but Steve still kept hold of the cot, for memories sake.

He walked over to Renora's bed and gazed down at her peaceful form, sleeping, as if not to have a care in the world. He bent down and kissed her on the forehead, and gently stroked her hair. "I love you, baby girl." He said, as he watched her for a few more minutes and then turned to leave his quarters.

[David Tan]

" ...... just not acceptable Doctor !" Crystal was saying as David re-entered the Observation Lounge.

"Admiral Smith has been cleared for duty. The Doctor practically had me drag him out of Sick-bay ... He's gone to his quarters."

"Maybe we should await your Captains' arrival ?" Doctor Casper said.

"The good Doctor here was telling me that we are not going to be allowed to search the cave system for their missing personnel." Crystal said, exasperated.

"So just how do you think we're going to achieve the task we were sent her for exactly ....." David asked, looking from one to the other of their guests, "It's not as if we can post their picture on every lamp standard and hope someone rings up for the reward, now is it !"

"I think you should start respecting our position ... Commander ! ... Doctor Beda said, glaring at David, "We have spent much time on this planet, and do not want to see our extensive work trampled by squads of Star Fleet personnel wandering aimlessly around our complex ... If we tell you that you will not be allowed entry to the cave system, then you will abide by our stipul ......" the woman halted her diatribe as the door opened:

"Am I missing something important ?" Admiral Smith asked, making his way around the table ..........




< tag : Steven / Crystal / Anyone >

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal was very relieved that the Admiral was out of sickbay it was a load off her mind and a load off what she was supposed to be doing. It also meant that she could lead the away team down to the planet to investigate...

She remembered her earlier conversations with Drs Caspar and Beda. Maureen had been worried and even settling in on the ship hadn't calmed her and it had been hours now. She had talked to Crystal as a fellow scientist though which made Crystal smile slightly.

Then she frowned thinking, scans of the planet were underway and being compared to all the survey data that had been taken prior to the scientist arrival and the data they had taken since.

There had so far been no sign of Sven Syrus or T'Sen. It was quite worrying and getting more and more worrying. She was in the observation lounge and things were not going well. She really couldn't understand Dr Beda's insistance was puzzling and annoying. "So just how do you think we're going to achieve the task we were sent her for exactly ....." David asked, looking from one to the other of their guests, "It's not as if we can post their picture on every lamp standard and hope someone rings up for the reward, now is it !" Clearly she wasn't the only one who was being frustrated by this

"I think you should start respecting our position ... Commander ! ... Doctor Beda said, glaring at David, "We have spent much time on this planet, and do not want to see our extensive work trampled by squads of Star Fleet personnel wandering aimlessly around our complex ... If we tell you that you will not be allowed entry to the cave system, then you will abide by our stipul ......" the man halted his diatribe as the door opened:

"Am I missing something important ?" Admiral Smith asked, making his way around the table.

Crystal smiled and forced her voice to calmness. "I was just about to suggest that if the ship's scans don't find anything We'll be sending teams planetside that we might as well follow the established survey protocol and also store all our data to continue the analysis and compare with the survey all ready taken. Any differences may give us clues to what happened."

Tag: Steve / Dr Beda / David

Crystal couldn't exactly say that she was surprised when about 15 minutes later the Oly's scans returned no sign of the missing scientists. She looked over at David. "We're going down there to look properly."

Tag:

[David Tan]

"I think you should start respecting our position ... Commander ! ... Doctor Beda said, glaring at David, "We have spent much time on this planet, and ....." Tan tuned out of the man's rant, choosing to study the surface of the table they were sat at instead. He had never liked anyone 'preaching' at him, and tended to ignore those who tried. David had a talent for latching on to the minutest inconsistency, be it in the facial expression, of intonation of a voice, or simply a gut-feeling on his behalf. But he knew Beda was lying ... Oh, he may not be doing it intentionally, but there was a reason he didn't want the Olympia Officers going into that cave system. Regardless of his tentative explanation, he had something to hide ... A newcomer to the conversation caught his attention.

"Am I missing something important ?"

After fifteen minutes of recapping and argument, they were informed of the scan results and Commander Rose turned to Tan:

"We're going down there to look properly."

"You cannot defy my instructions !" Doctor Beda shouted, glaring at Steven, "YOU ... YOU are the Commanding Officer. Inform your underlings of their orders."

"Actually ....." Smith said slowly, "I don't actually remember Commander Rose handing Command back to me, soooo, technically, she is still in Command, AND, giving the orders." he finished, shrugging.

"Please escort 'Doctor' Beda to the transporter room." David instructed the Security Officer who had accompanied the man, "Hold him there until the away team arrive."

Beda was dumbstruck as the Officer 'guided' him towards the door. He glared at each of the Senior Staff in turn. He pulled away from the Officer and slammed both palms on the table:

"I DEMAND you allow me to contact Star Fleet Command before you make any attempt to transport to the surface ... I have every right to this under the Federation charter. Failure to allow me to make contact with my superiors will result in you looing your positions ... ALL of YOU !"

"On second thoughts Lieutenant." David said, ignoring Beda yet again, "I think the good Doctor needs to see our Chief Medical Officer for a routine examination. He is obviously overwrought due to the situation with his missing personnel. We should ensure he is fit to return to the surface at this point in time."

The Lieutenant didn't hesitate. He took hold of the Doctor firmly and 'assisted' his traverse to the door. As the two entered the corridor and the door closed, Beda could be heard protesting ... Strongly ... David turned to the others and grinned:

"Never could cope with a big mouth ......"

"You know we have no grounds to hold him Commander." Steven said, a wry grin at Tan's antics.

"He's hiding something." Tan said, remaining standing as Smith and Rose became serious, "Call it 'intuition' but he was being less than candid in my humble opinion ... This way, he has time to calm down, be it on his own, or by judicious use of sedative medications, and in the mean time, we can get to the surface first if that's the plan. Hell, we're supposed to be on the same team, right, so why is he so adamant that we avoid that cave system ?"


Transporter Room Two - Thirty minutes later ...


David hit his Comm badge:

=^= Tan to Sick-bay =^=

=^= Sick-bay .. Nurse Demoza =^=

=^= Please have Doctor Beda escorted to transporter room two once his 'checkup' is completed =^=

=^= On his way Commander .. Sick-bay out =^= the nurse said, relief in every word.

Five minutes later, and suffering from acute earache from the continuous ranting of Doctor Beda, they were on the surface ... The complex was quite modern given it was a temporary structure. They had beamed into the communal area, used as a mess hall, meeting venue, and numerous other activities.

David wasn't at all surprised when on completion of their materialization, they were greeted by a woman and two other men, all holding phasers on the new arrivals !

The Security Officer drew his phaser, but didn't have time to raise it before the woman spoke:

"Don't ! ...." she said, almost casually, "I am Doctor Casper, Assistant team leader .... You must forgive our precautions, but Halin had a pre-arranged communication window in which he was to inform us of his situation. When we received nothing from him, we were, understandably, concerned." ..........




< tag : All >

< OOC : Can we start to move forward from here ? >

[Deleted]

Once the Away Team had beamed down to the surface, Steve made his way up to the bridge to oversee things from there. Upon entering, he glanced round and saw that everything was calm, which could sometimes be a good sign....but not always.

Taking his position in the pride and place of the Centre Chair, Steve brought up a few reports on the arm pad and closed them just as quickly, shaking his head. 'Nothing of interest there then.' He thought to himself. He then signed off a couple of duty padds that had been given to him on the way up to the bridge.

Things were a little too quiet....no word from the Away Team yet. 'Let's see what is going on' he thought, as he opened a channel.

=/\= Olympia to Away Team, anything to report? =/\= Perhaps he was being a bit too restless.

<Tag - response from whomever>

=/\= I see, well report back in regular intervals. Smith out. =/\=

A quiet ship, Away Team on the surface, and not a lot else happening.

'Looks like it could be an easy day for once' Steve thought.....perhaps a bit too soon?

[David Tan]

David lifted his arm to block the Security Officers' movement as their 'host' spoke:

"Don't ! ...." she said, almost casually, "I am Doctor Casper, Assistant team leader .... You must forgive our precautions, but Halin had a pre-arranged communication window in which he was to inform us of his situation. When we received nothing from him, we were, understandably, concerned."

"Is this the way you treat 'ALL' your guests, Doctor ?" Crystal asked.

"Doctor Beda, are you alright." the Doctor asked, ignoring the Commander, "We we're understandably concerned when we didn't receive your scheduled signal."

"I am fine." Beda replied, looking like he wanted to hit someone, "I was, delayed somewhat. They intend to search the cave systems ... I told them there was no need, and that our people would turn up, but they, insisted."

"What part of 'we are here to help' are you academic types not getting !" David asked, his annoyance building, ".... and Doctor, please remove that phaser from my midriff before I am compelled to move it myself."

One of the men walked to Tan and placed his phaser on David's temple ... The Comm chirped to life before he could comment further.

=^= Olympia to Away Team .. Anything to report ? =^=

"Be careful what you say. I wouldn't want any accidents." Doctor Casper said as Crystal tapped her badge:

=^= Away Team on the surface .. We have been greeted by Doctor Casper .. We will be reviewing search patterns shortly Admiral =^=

=^= I see .. Report back at regular intervals .. Smith out =^=

"Very good Commander." Beda said, waving the man away from Tan, "Now, while I am sure your intentions are what they seem, but we cannot allow you to enter the cave systems ... You can search anywhere from orbit. The caves are only fractionally mapped and treacherous in places. I would hate to be responsible for any unforeseen, injuries."

"We scanned a thousand square kilometers around the encampment. So unless your people have mastered the art of travelling five hundred kilometers a day, on 'FOOT' ... Then they're are missing in one of those two cave systems."

"Two ? .... You are mistaken Commander." Beda said, unable to hide the side-long glance at Casper before continuing, "There is only one cave system, and as I stated, you will not be allowed to enter."

"Let me get this straight." David said, finding a seat and dropping into it as if unconcerned at the sudden developments, "You ask for our help, and when we get here you hold us at gunpoint. Now, I tend to take offence at this kind of thing normally, but our Commanding Officer is recovering from a bout of illness, and I really don't want him relapsing. So, I'll just point this out for you again ... We're here to find your missing Scientist's. If those phaser's are not removed and we're allowed to continue, the Olympia will send more people down here than the four of you could handle. We'll detain you on the ship and we'll search where we like. All shooting us will get you is the opportunity to study an eight by six cell for the rest of your lives ... So, shall we start over ?" he finished, raising his arms waiting for a reply ..........

[Crystal Rose]

OOC: Sorry, could've sworn that I posted last weekend but apparently I didn't... Oh well brain playing up.

Crystal took a big lungful of the air as she stepped away from the beam down site. She turned full circle looking and using her tricorder to check that they had arrived precisely where they were meant to. She organised the other Starfleet members of the away team. She turn back to see that David and Doctor Breda were locked in a debate that was getting more heated by the second.

"Two ? .... You are mistaken Commander." Beda said, unable to hide the side-long glance at Casper before continuing, "There is only one cave system, and as I stated, you will not be allowed to enter."

"Let me get this straight." David said, finding a seat and dropping into it as if unconcerned at the sudden developments, "You ask for our help, and when we get here you hold us at gunpoint. Now, I tend to take offence at this kind of thing normally, but our Commanding Officer is recovering from a bout of illness, and I really don't want him relapsing. So, I'll just point this out for you again ... We're here to find your missing Scientist's. If those phaser's are not removed and we're allowed to continue, the Olympia will send more people down here than the four of you could handle. We'll detain you on the ship and we'll search where we like. All shooting us will get you is the opportunity to study an eight by six cell for the rest of your lives ... So, shall we start over ?" he finished, raising his arms waiting for a reply ..........

Crystal called up the scans of the cave system and turned her tricorder screen to face Doctor Breda. The two cave systems were highlighed, it was possible that they connected beyond the range of the Olympia's sensors and plausibly water and air could circulate between the two.

"As I understand your notes, this is your cave system." Crystal tapped the system with the most southerly entrance. And then continued talking before either of the others could say anything. "Isn't it possible that Dr Syrus went into this entrance?" She pointed to a entrance two the second cave system that was a matter of metres away from the other one.

Tag: Tan / Breda

"Even if he didn't go in there we certainly can. That area has not been surveyed."

She moved to head that way and the rest of the away team fell into a travel pattern around her. "Shall we be off?" She was looking forward to having a explore of the this planet.

[David Tan]

"Isn't it possible that Dr Syrus went into this entrance ?" Crystal asked.

David watched the Scientist's with interest. None of them wanted to even acknowledge the existence of the second entrance, let alone go running towards it, and that intrigued Tan. Was it possible they really didn't know of the second opening. It was almost a kilometer to the north, and admittedly well concealed ... No, he decided, they knew !

"Shall we be off ?" Crystal said, grinning like someone recreating an Enid Blyton 'famous five' adventure from the twentieth century ... David had to admit, the woman knew how to wind people up. But she also knew how to get things done without having to resort to fighting over it. he liked that about her ... Smiling, he fell into step for the kilometer trek to the second cave opening. The Scientist's reluctantly followed .....

~~~~~~~~~~

On arrival, Crystal contacted the Olympia. She brought the Admiral up to speed and asked for a complete scan of the cave system in their vicinity to be sent to their tricorders. Unfortunately there would be no way to keep a lock on the away team once they had traversed one hundred meters into the caves ...

=^= Olympia .. Can you send two sets of pattern enhancers down .. We can set them up at the minimal distance to relay Comms back and forth .. We'll still loose contact but only after six to eight hundred meters =^= David said, confirming the transport as the six, one meter pylons materialized.

"You are sure there is nothing you want to add about these caves before we enter ?" Crystal asked Casper and Beda.

"How could we .... We had no knowledge of this entrance." Doctor Casper replied. Commander Rose shrugged, nodding to David.

"Set phasers on 'stun' and keep your eyes open ... We 'could' leave a Security Officer out here with you, but I think it would be more fun if you accompanied us." he said, motioning to the two Security Officers, who stepped beside the Scientist's, phasers draw, not actually aiming at them, but the implication was plain enough, "Try not to wander off, I'd hate to have to explain your sudden unconscious state." he said, making his way to the entrance and heading in, Crystal close behind him.

~~~~~

"Sir's .. Ninety meters." one of the Security Officer's said, receiving a nod from Crystal to set up the first relay point. He checked contact with the ship and confirmed to Commander Rose ... They had only gone a few more meters when David stopped. there was a side-tunnel branching off the main one. He told everyone to hold position while he checked it out ...

"Seventy, maybe eighty meters then a dead end." Tan said on his return, throwing an empty leather satchel onto the floor between the group, "But someone's been down there, I found that."

"That belongs to T'se ....." Beda began, before realizing his mistake.

"To Doctor T'Sen." David said, checking his records, "Vulcan Female, Geologist, Historian, and .... Missing."

"Let's keep going." Crystal said, making it plain that her former humorous attitude had now well and truly been replaced by one of annoyance at the Scientist's withholding of information ! ..........

[Crystal Rose]

Crystal knew the scientists were not done arguing and was nearly sure that at least some of them knew more about what was going on on this planet than they were letting on but there was nothing she could do about it as she led the way towards the cave system.

It did not take long to reach the entrance and once the actual exploration was underway she felt a bit better, at least until that satchel was located in a side passage and identified.

"To Doctor T'Sen." David said, checking his records, "Vulcan Female, Geologist, Historian, and .... Missing."

"Let's keep going." Crystal said, making it plain that her former humorous attitude had now well and truly been replaced by one of annoyance at the Scientist's withholding of information. She bit her lip as she turned away. That satchel had been in perfect condition except for a bit of dust; it had not be snagged or caught or torn away. It had been left and left empty. No scientist would leave their sample bag behind.

A hundred meters downs the tunnel the walls darkened in patches. The rock had clearly been burnt seemingly recently, was this what T'Sen had walked into.

The air seemed to be mustier although her tricorder did not indicate there there were increased levels of anything nasty present. The passages branched again.

Crystal gestured to the right hand branch. "The burn marks continue that way and no geologist would leave that unsurveyed."

She looked down the other tunnel and paused. "Do you see a light down there?" The others turned to look. Crystal could see a faint orange glow so unknown distance down the tunnel. Her tricorder could not get a reading on it.

[David Tan]

They came across the satchel first, David could see the worried look on Crystal's face as she turned it over in her hands. For as far as their tricorders could penetrate, there were no other life-signs but their own, 'So why leave the gag ?' he thought.

Still further into the labyrinth, he was getting a little 'edgy' regarding the distinct lack of information. They were still seeing the burn marks on the walls, so were confident they were heading in the right direction, but hell, it was un-nerving to say the least, but then she turned to a darkened passageway:

"Do you see a light down there ?"

David turned off his illumination, then looked down the tunnel, waiting patiently until their eyes had accustomed to the lack of light.

"Thermal activity maybe ?" he mused, a slight frown forming, though Crystal didn't seem convinced the orange glow was natural in nature, she took a few steps into the tunnel, "Looks like we're going this way then." he said grinning at Crystal as he passed her ... After another sixty, maybe seventy meters, the light began to increase until eventually they entered a large chamber ... The walls seemed to be coated in some form of bio-luminescent gelatin substance, possibly a bi-product of animal life, or maybe something within the rock structural makeup itself. Unfortunately, it wasn't that that finally grabbed David's attention. Crouching down, he ran his tricorder back and forth as Crystal approached.

"Isn't that a ....."

"A Farian .... Yes." he replied, pulling a nearby tarpaulin over the body before the Scientist's got a good look, "Or what was left of one." he finished, rising to his feet, subconsciously craving a barbecue.

"But the Farian's are hardly the kidnapping types." Crystal said, ignoring the questions from the Scientist's.

"Yes, they much prefer to get what they go after using as best a devious method as they can concoct. They're the 'Hit n Run' type, they don't tend to get involved unless they stand to make something out of the deal quickly." David said, scanning the chamber again and nodding, "So my question would have to be 'What, are they doing here' and apparently, dead ?" he finished, spinning on Beda !

"You are mistaken if you surmise we are in collusion with these people, Commander." Beda replied instantly.

"Oh, I could care less, but I'm not sure how at this point." Tan said, eyeing the two alternatives for departure from the cavern. The way they had come, or, the other tunnel opposite their position, "I would tend to be more concerned with 'who' killed this one ..... After you, Sir's" he said, casually waving his phaser in the direction of the other exit ..........

[Crystal Rose]

OOC: Sorry I've been offline again, this time it was illness. *sigh*


"Do you see a light down there ?"

David turned off his illumination, then looked down the tunnel,waiting patiently until their eyes had accustomed to the lack of light. Crystal felt a chill run up her spin as they waited in the dark. There was clearly an orange glow. Several explanations ran through Crystal's head but none of them reassured her. However she knew for certain that if there had been a light there when T'Sen was her the other scientist would have gone that way to investigate.

"Thermal activity maybe ?" he mused, "Looks like we're going this way then." he said grinning at Crystal as he passed her. Crystal followed without externally obvious hesitation. The tunnel was relatively easy to navigate by dark adjusted eyes even with the main torches off. The light grew steadily brighter until the tunnel opened out into a cavern whose walls were covered in some sort of bioluminescent substance. Crystal stared at the walls in wonder for a very long moment and turned in a full; circle as she tried to take everything in. Then she noted that David was looking at something on the floor twenty meters away, she walked over towards him. Crystal stopped moving and recognised the mass on the floor at almost the same moment. "Isn't that a ....." she began and then her words trailed off as she realised that she didn't need then.

"A Farian .... Yes." he replied, pulling a nearby tarpaulin over the body before the Scientists got a good look, "Or what was left of one." The body had clearly been burned and a significant fraction of it was gone completely. So now they had someone who should be here and wasn't, someone who shouldn't be here and was, and someone who had done this. Crystal supposed that she couldn't discount the idea that T'Sen was someone responsible for this; but, if so, that left even more unanswered questions. Crystal turned her mind to why a Farian would be here.

"But the Farians are hardly the kidnapping types." Crystal said, ignoring the questions from the scientists as they gathered round the two starfleet officers. Crystal was quite grateful that none of them had gotten a look at the body before it was covered.

"Yes, they much prefer to get what they go after using as best a devious method as they can concoct. They're the 'Hit n Run' type, they don't tend to get involved unless they stand to make something out of the deal quickly." David said, scanning the chamber again and nodding, "So my question would have to be 'What, are they doing here' and apparently, dead ?" he finished, spinning on Beda !

"You are mistaken if you surmise we are in collusion with these people, Commander." Beda replied instantly.
Crystal wasn't entirely sure what David's plan was unless he was trying to provoke Dr Beda into making some sort of mistake...

She copied the result of David's scans of the body to her own tricorder and started to examine the results. Yes, the body had clearly been burned but judging from the nervous system damage the Farian, who had been male and in late middle age, had actually died from either a disruptor shot or an equivalent neural disruption.

"Oh, I could care less, but I'm not sure how at this point." Tan said, eyeing the two alternatives for departure from the cavern. The way they had come, or, the other tunnel opposite their position, "I would tend to be more concerned with 'who' killed this one ..... After you, Sirs" he said, casually waving his phaser in the direction of the other exit .......... Crystal noted that as the scientists trouped past the tarpaulin covered body all of them except Dr Beda stared at it and gave it a wide berth now that they knew what it was.

Crystal looked at the readings from the bioluminence on the walls it was apparently best described as a fungus but what it was feeding on the initial scans could not pick up.

"Is someone there?" The voice seemed to to echo all around them.

"That sounds like T'Sen," Dr Caspar said. Before anyone could stop her she raised both hand to her mouth. "Stay where you are T'Sen. We're coming."

With both the shouts still ringing in her ears Crystal muttered to David, "We didn't particularly want the element of surprise, did we?"

Tag

[Crystal Rose]

OOC: edited to fit better with Seth's post below

It was thirty minutes later that they found Doctor T'Sen. The Vulcan woman was leaning against one of the passage walls and started and then stumbled when she saw the away team. The light revealed a green smear down the side of her face suggested a reason for her unfocussed gaze.

With T'Sen supported by Maureen and one of the security team hurried back to the surface it was vital that they get her back to the Oly. She shouldn't have been anywhere near this cave system so anything she could tell them would be important.

=/\=This is Commander Rose to Security. We have located one of the missing scientists, Dr T'Sen, she is in in sickbay with Dr Caspar. I want someone to go down there and keep an eye on them. If anything about what happened to T'Sen is discovered let me know. =/\=

Crystal closed the comm link when here conversation with Security was complete. She turned to David. "We need to investigate that cave system thoroughly. There's something going on in those tunnels and we need to know what it is. We'll get a survey team down here and appropriate security."

Tag - David

Crystal tagged her comm badge again. =/\=Commander Rose to Lieutenant Meshers. I don't know how your ground based navigation skills are but we have a cave system to be mapped and we are are short a geo-cartographer, you and Stellar Cartographer Martins are the best we've got. Please report to this location in thirty minutes.=/\=

Tag - Lenard

Crystal repeated the conversation with with Ensign Yvette Martins. That left Crystal waiting for the new plan to come together.

[Seth Helacaan]

The inquiry room on Starbase 47 was silent and deathly. Seth was hunched forward, his fingers interlocking and unlocking endlessly. The judiciary showed no sign of re-emerging, still in intense deliberation. He tugged at his collar, trying to minimize his apparent discomfort. The red undershirt of his uniform felt alien to him; he wore it reluctantly.

Things had moved so quickly. Confirmed as full time FO of the Nevada and then the temporary positional shift to that of Acting CO. Commodore Park was yet to reappear, lost for the time being in the intrigue of Starfleet Intel.

Beside him were sat his senior staff, also nervous. It was remarkable to be here. A lonesome colonist, ambivalent about his feelings towards Starfleet, now in a position of responsibility for a whole starship. He would not allow them to hold him responsible for the loss of the CO, nor let himself feel responsible for the brass's decision to mothball the vessel. He simply would not.

Seth's quarters Starbase 47

He toyed with the model of the Akira, blistered fingers caressing the smooth surfaces roughly. Images shot through him; all those he had known aboard, faces, responses to a subtle joke he'd made, the COs: Nack, Admiral Drew, DanTrek and Jon Park, and all the others, Lucy Grey. All family. His home away from home (the beautiful, wild harshness of Ascension). Having cast off to some degree one family, he'd gained another where he'd expected to find only torment and apathy. And now... That was all gone. How could he go on now?

"You're sure Commander? This is a decision no officer takes lightly." The Admiral's eyes drilled into Seth's after reading the PADD in which he had tendered his resignation. "In fact, it begins to lead me to think that you do have some complicity in the disappearance of Commodore Park, and the associated incident with the Romulans... Not to mention, countless other incidents," the Admiral waved his hand.

"My mind is made up sir." These words were forceful, born of the rough core possessed by all Wezeans. He stepped towards the desk, removing the pips from his collar and laying them in front of the Admiral. "I hereby resign my commission as a Lieutenant Commander of the Federation's Starfleet." Despite his determination the last words caught in his throat. "Admiral." He saluted and turned to leave.

"Seth. You're making a mistake." Helacaan stopped short of the exit but didn't turn. "Whatever you're up to, whatever you have in mind, don't. The patchiness of your service record is well known to the brass. And so is how you came to Starfleet reluctantly and rose so alarmingly quickly. But despite your misgivings, you still joined us. Why?"

R Class Freighter Pollux en route to Nnahus

"Distance Captain." Seth was squared in a corner of the bridge. He poked his eyes around disdainfully. This freighter's control center was hardly comparable to Starfleet's standards. The aesthetic was gloomy, almost gothic. Grilled flooring clattering as the bridge crew trampled from one station to the next. It was all he could do to not take charge himself.

The freighter captain was inexperienced but he clearly knew his ship. Better than Seth did, he surmised. "4.7 lightyears mister. Don't worry, you'll be meeting your cursed friends soon." The captain retreated to his ready room.

Seth was silent. Those 'cursed friends' weren't exactly that, but for the time being he supposed he could classify them as such. He had debated this long and hard during the long penseful hours in his quarters on Starbase 47 - turned often to the stars, and distant Wezea for support - before he had been asked to leave officers' accommodation and move to civilian residence.

Yes. He was making the right move. Even though he didn't trust the Rectifiers, to obey their commands no matter how belatedly might lead him to who was truly pulling his strings, who lay behind the Rectifier agency. If his worst fears were realized and that was the Caratavians, then he would return immediately to the homeworld. Crioas's warnings played in his mind, even though that was over two years ago, 'Don't defy them... I'm not that foolish and nor are you.'

So absorbed was he that the exploding console shifted him little from his ruminations, as if it were indistinct background noise formless and abstract after a spell of sensory deprivation. Seth looked over the sholder of the shipmate manning the defense console. "It's a torpedo attack," the shipmate said, "Three Naal Conglomerate vessels, approaching rapidly off starboard. They are arming another volley."

"Return fire," Seth ordered. The man fumbled, cursing. Seth growled and shoved him aside, "Arming plasma cannons. Helm, plot best evasive action. Then accelerate towards the warp jump point."

"What the hell are you doing Helacaan!" the skipper strode back on to the bridge.

He turned to the apopletic captain. "Nothing, I -" He lost his senses in a wash of dizzy heat.

Freighter Pollux escape pod - Outer Vandian System

The dagger-shaped object descended into the system towards the ecliptic drawn out by the star and the third planet.

Seth worked the small control panel in the darkness of the pod's interior. There were no portals or other visual cues, only a rudimentary sensory apparatus to give him information. The only hope was that these pods were designed to home in on the nearest star-planet system, and that seemed to be the case. He read several massive bodies, one of stellar size and composition, several hundred million kilometers away, and they were getting closer.

Nnahus would have to wait. Home would have to wait. Perhaps everything would have to wait. Thoughts of his own mortality encroached upon him as he observed the system from his grim vantage point.

(Note: I will catch up and answer the tag soon. This serves as an introduction. I reason that Seth is referred to as Commander because not all of the Olympia crew are yet aware of his decommissioning)

[Crystal Rose]

OOC: Seth, I am assuming you are going to be rescued from the escape pod by the Oly. I have editted my previous post and am giving you a new way in.

Doctor Maureen Caspar

Maureen was very pleased to see T'Sen again. She and the Vulcan woman had spend some considerable time working together on the initial surveys. She wouldn't say they knew each other well but on an extended research posting you had to spend time with the other members of the team simply because there were no other options. She hadn't realised that T'Sen was quite so heavy, she hadn't thought that she was unfit but she was sure that the security ensign, Hansen she thought her name was, was taking more of T'Sen's weight than she was and she did not look at all bothered. Then again Hansen was probably twenty years her junior and had presumably not spent long enough in non M class atmospheres that her lungs were permanently scarred.

Was it was her imagination, or was T'Sen getting heavier? Maybe she was simply taking less of her own weight. The doors hissed open letting them into sickbay T'Sen was clearly hurt but had not been considered an urgent case so she had walked in.

Hansen left promptly, presumably to return to the away team, Maureen wondered if she too should go back down but that would mean leaving T'Sen and that did not seem right. It was actually quite unnerving, she really didn't want to go back down to the planet, which was a first. She had been through storms of many kinds and various other situations which had had had her adrenaline pumping but they hadn't made her feel like this. There was something really wrong down on that planet and she and her team had completely failed to notice anything/ They had been surveying the planet, how could they have missed habitation on that planet?

She knew she was trying to distract herself from what had happened to T'Sen, no one had told her quite what had happened to the other woman and it wasn't her business to pry into. Except in a sense it was. Sven was still missing, which meant that she was in charge of the survey team. T'Sen shouldn't have been in those caves, so what had she stumbled upon that had led to this and where was Sven, he certainly could have been in those caves...

Maureen glanced around sickbay there was a young man, he was seemingly waiting for some test result or other, she hoped it wouldn't be bad news, maybe she could distract herself by distracting him? Besides which, it was still a novelty to have so many other people to talk to.

"Hi I'm Maureen. I'm part of the survey team, I imagine you've all ready heard all about what's been going on down there" She had learned that starships were like universities in the speed rumours spread round it.

Tag: Seth

OOC: Maureen is assuming Seth is a part of the Olympia crew. If this doesn't work I can edit.

[David Tan]

After finding T'Sen, David moved forward while the Commander questioned the woman. He was cautious, the cave system was much more extensive that they had been led to believe, and that was a concern. He returned as the Scientist was beaming out of the caves:

"You get anything ?"

"No." the Crystal said, annoyed, "We need to investigate that cave system thoroughly. There's something going on in those tunnels and we need to know what it is. We'll get a survey team down here and appropriate security." she finished, before tapping her comm badge once again.

=^= Commander Rose to Lieutenant Meshers .. I don't know how your ground based navigation skills are but we have a cave system to be mapped and we are are short a geo-cartographer .. You and Stellar Cartographer Martins are the best we've got . Please report to this location in thirty minutes =^=

David busied himself with checking the nearby tributaries of the cave system. He didn't want to venture too far alone, so after marking any 'dead-end' passages, he back-tracked to the groups location and waited. Moments later Lieutenant Meshers and the Cartographer Ensign Martins materialized. He had contacted the ship and arranged for Comm relay's to be sent down, this way they could set up a relay of transmitter boosters throughout the area's of the cave system they were exploring. They would have the added benefit of allowing the Olympia to keep a real-time track of their location ... Setting up the first relay at the mouth of the large cave they occupied, David returned to the Exec' Officer:

"OK, I think we're ready to set out. We'll keep in touch."

"Every thirty minutes David." Crystal said, concern in her voice.

"Yes, Mother." Tan said, grinning, before turning to the Security Officers, "You and you can come with us, I want one on point, the other can follow behind, there's to be no firing unless absolutely necessary. Lieutenant, ensign, you ready ?"

< tag : Meshers >

"Those tunnels are dead ends, so we have these three options. Thoughts ensign ?" David asked the Cartographer.

Yvette stepped forward, nerves showing, but she got to work, checking the structure of the rock formations at the mouth of each tunnel. She took a few steps into each tributary before retracing her steps. She took out a small device and placed it at the mouth of each tunnel in turn ... There was an almost inaudible 'ping' as the device sent out a precise frequency wave, then studied the readings of each in turn before turning to Tan.

"The first tunnel is approximately one point eight kilometers before turning down, I can't get anything out of 'line of sight' with this." she held up the sub-acoustic transmitter before continuing, "Second tunnel is approximately the same, but the third shows a much bigger complex. It goes into the mountain almost three kilometers then divides into numerous tributaries. There are man-made items at the far end of the main artery, I'm sure Sir."

"Man-made ?" Crystal asked from behind the group.

"Yes Ma'am. At this range this isn't exactly accurate, but the signals show flat surfaces, 'large' flat surfaces, that are bouncing back to us. There's also at least one massive cavern, larger than this one. my guess, we'd fit a ship in there no trouble. Sir, the tunnel has a downward angle, and given the topography on the surface combined with us moving deeper, there's no way we could contact the ship, or be transported out in case of injury." the young woman said, a worried look on her face.

"Then no-one better break an ankle ... Had they." David said, picking up his pack, "Tunnel three is is."

"Commander, report on a regular basis. Understood." Crystal said.

Activating the Comm booster as he passed, David followed the Security Officer into the dark, foreboding tunnel.

~~~~~~~~~~

They had traveled one point three kilometers when the Security Officer held up a closed fist and waved toward the floor. The group crouched down, listening intently as the Lieutenant moved forward cautiously. He had been gone less than a minute when he returned, a charred satchel in one hand. it obviously belonged to one of the survey team as it had a Federation insignia on the clasp. he handed it to David, shaking his head to signify the owner would have no further use of it ... There was a recorder in the pack and David activated it, scrolling back several moments. He could see the tunnel ahead, the knees of the Scientist as he, or she, took samples from close to the tunnel floor, then the record jumped sideways, hitting the wall and falling to the floor. The light flickered, making for an eerie scene in the darkness of the tunnel. There was no audio, but the Scientist had been dictating just before he or she was surprised. A foot appeared on the small screen, and the unmistakable flash of an energy weapons' discharge ... Given the fact that they had seen no-one apart from T'Set since entering the cave system, one thing was suddenly obvious ...

Whoever had killed the Scientist was ahead of them ..........

[Seth Helacaan]

Seth's last memory was of being pulled, gasping for air, from the escape pod. The life support of the short range pod had failed minutes before his recovery by the USS Olympia and he was dragged out of the dagger-shaped craft on a repulsor stretcher. Ceiling lights passed by his glazed eyes making him feel nauseous. Hazy, milky, was this what dying felt like...? He passed out and the stretcher was beamed as a matter of emergency directly to sickbay.

He sat up, realizing instantly how sore he was. Leaden legs swung off the biobed and the groan on his lips attracted the attention of a nearby nurse. He felt light headed. "Rest easy..." she waved a tricorder in his face. She took some readings then went off again. Seth scratched his head; how had he ended up here? He remembered the darkness of the escape pod, digital readouts, that mechanical clicking and the masculine voice reminding him of the time till expiration of breathable air. But this... this was a Starfleet vessel!

He groaned. No matter how hard he tried... he couldn't get away. An officer wearing commander's pips came striding up, presumably having been alerted to Seth's consciousness by his nurse. "You were lucky Mr Helacaan."

Seth looked up at him under dark coarse eyebrows.

"We checked the Federation database for a person matching your description. Who could this man be, we wondered, cocooned in a pod jettisoned from a mercenary freighter? The record proved enlightening." The Doctor turned away to a rack of hyposprays.

Helacaan tracked his motions warily; presumably he was prepping another injection. "And the record told you I'm a former Starfleet officer, retired from service as recently as two months ago."

"Curious simply Mr Helacaan, of your intentions and motives." Seth gasped as the hypospray was pressed into his neck. "But I'm no intelligence officer, nor anything else of that ilk. I'm simply a Doctor and am here only to save you from your near-death experience." The CMO sighed, slotting his injectors into their rack and walking away, looking over a padd handed to him by the nurse but then turning back, "Oh, Mr Helacaan, someone from the command staff will want to see you soon."

Two hours passed and he still wasn't allowed out of sickbay. It made sense, he wasn't even meant to be on this ship. He had no more right to roam it than any other mercenary they'd just happened to pick up. Wait. Did he just refer to himself as a mercenary?

A voice shook him almost violently from his reverie. "Hi I'm Maureen. I'm part of the survey team, I imagine you've all ready heard all about what's been going on down there"

Seth put on the best smile of self-assuredness he could muster, "No idea. Survey team?" He looked at her seriously then as if to supplicate his nonchalance, "I've spent the last two hours on my back... I haven't had time to keep up with the comings and goings of ship affairs."

She seemed confused. Was he making a joke? Seth looked at her more closely. Forties perhaps, red hair and striking eyes. Despite her being perhaps 15 years older than Seth he wasn't blind to the fact she was attractive. Beautiful even.

"I'm not a Starfleet officer," he explained, "In fact I don't even... This ship... what's it called?"

"The USS Olympia," she smiled, her face mysteriously alive as if suppressing a chuckle. "How long have you been aboard, sir?"

"Less than four hours. My memory's hazy but as far as I remember I was tractored in by escape pod. Before that I was -" He stopped abruptly, lying down on the biobed. Thoughts of the Pollux came back. His mission, perhaps on indefinite hold, retained massive importance, to the clearing of his name and to Ascension. "It is best not to go there," he finished.

He sat up on his elbows, "What is going on here? You're part of a planetary survey team... So you're not a member of this ship's crew?"

<tag Maureen Caspar>

After she'd made her response the conversation was, unfortunately, cut short by new arrivals. Three crewmen in security colors, accompanied by an officer of the command division entered sickbay. The latter's eyes immediately found Seth. "It seems I'm wanted," he said to Maureen, his normal gruff manner contrasting with the smile.

[David Tan]

"Sir, with your permission, I'll go ahead with Francitti." the Security Officer who had been following the group said, "If the attacker is ahead, it's better to have us both up there."

"Agreed." Dan said, taking one of the Comm boosters and setting it up quickly.he contacted the Exec' quickly then nodded to the Security Officers. Then moving forward slowly, they began to follow the incline ... Suddenly Francitti stopped and turned to face him:

"Commander." he whispered, "There's a body approximately twenty meters ahead. It looks like a woman. Kaplan is going to move forward to investigate, but I'd advise moving back along the tunnel to ensure our safety until we can assess the situation."

Kaplan inched forward until he was only meters from the prone body laying in the tunnel. He scanned his surroundings, and satisfied no-one was close, he moved forward until he was aside the body. He could smell the charring from the crude phaser weapon used to kill the woman, and knew it had taken her moments to succumb to an agonizing death. He swore silently under his breath, then checked the body. Moving quickly, he looked for any form of recorder. he could see a strap running out from beneath her, so tentatively, he began to roll the body away. It was then he saw the wire !

In the zero point three three of a second of life remaining to him, his mind processed the information about the 'booby-trap' and the fact they had used the body for just this outcome. His mind just had time to send a signal to his eyes to close, a signal that never reached it's destination, as the explosive fulfilled it's only role, and detonated .....

The light hit them a micro-second before the sound, and the shock-wave !

All three were thrown off their feet, slamming into the rough stone floor of the tunnel. David began to stagger to his feet, only to be pulled to the floor by the remaining Security Officer Francitti. He could see the mans lips moving as he shouted to Tan to remain on the floor, but the high-pitched whine ringing in his ears blocked out all other sounds. Francitti pulled him to the wall and sat him up, pointing toward the direction of the explosion, then at the far wall. Gradually, David's hearing began to return, and he could understand what the man was telling him. He stood, using the wall of the tunnel for support, and staggered across to Yvette Martins. She had been thrown into the wall and was bleeding from a cut to her head. Francitti got to work and quickly stemmed the flow of blood, and within minutes the woman was able to get to her feet, albeit relying on Tan for support.

"Wha .... What hap ...." she stuttered.

"Sir, I'm going forward to check the tunnel. Drink some fluids." he didn't wait for permission, but turned and walked down the dust and smoke filled tunnel to where the bomb detonated. David lifted a flask to Yvette's lips and urged her to drink. When she pushed his hand away he stood and looked for the Comm booster pylon. Hardly surprisingly, it was totally fried ...

He tapped his comm badge, hardly surprised when he heard nothing. Francitti returned, looking ashen, even in the gloom of the tunnel, there was no need to point out the obvious.

"Commander. I think you should take Miss Martins back to the cavern. She is injured, and may well be suffering from concussion. I will go on and find out who did this to us."

"NO !" Yvette said, defiance oozing from the single word, "They will have heard, and felt, the explosion. It wasn't large, but in these tunnels it would travel for thousands of meters. Commander Rose will know we have hit trouble. We should press on ... I seriously doubt our bomber would expect us to continue after him, and it may be our only chance to get at him." Francitti looked at David, leaving the decision to him. Tan reached down and took Yvette's phaser. He set it to the maximum setting then handed it back. Yvette began to stand, but he held her down:

"You're not going." he said without preamble, and making sure she understood it was an 'order' not an option, "You stay here, shoot anything that comes anywhere near you. Once Commander Rose get's people to you, let them know we've gone ahead."

"I cou ....." she began, but the look on David's face convinced her to fall silent.

She sat against the wall watching Commander Tan and Lieutenant Francitti move into the cloying dust-filled tunnel, knowing they may never see their assailant before he killed them both ..........